There was an audible reaction in the courtroom following Circuit Judge David Laser's ruling that Tyler J. Barefield, 35, would be awarded an $850,000 bond on Monday inside the Pope County Courthouse.

Some began to cry joyfully, while others wept in disbelief. Another slammed his hands on a railing in frustration and stormed out of the courtroom.

Barefield, who was previously denied bond twice, was arrested on Sept. 22, 2016, in connection with the shooting deaths of Beau Dewitt, 22, and Aaron Brock, 22. Investigators alleged Barefield shot both at his business, U-Pull-It Salvage Yard, where the pair had entered to steal car parts.

Barefield allegedly crushed their bodies in a vehicle in an effort to hide evidence. In Barefield's original bond hearing before District Judge Don Bourne, Pope County Sheriff Investigator Eric Riggs testified Barefield admitted to crushing the bodies but denied being on scene when the murders occurred. However, Riggs went on to testify security footage from outside the salvage yard showed a white Ford F-150, the same make of vehicle belonging to Barefield, enter through the gate and drive behind the main office. Moments later, lights came on in the office.

Security footage from inside U-Pull-It allegedly showed Barefield watching security feed and wearing camouflaged clothing. Barefield allegedly arrived at 9 p.m., entered the main office, watched footage, stepped outside and grabbed items from the back and bed of the truck, then exited the office. Around 1:15 a.m. Barefield allegedly returns and is clearly seen carrying an AR-15 on camera — a gun which takes .223-caliber ammo. Riggs said the AR-15 was recovered in Barefield's home through a search warrant.

Barefield's lawyer, Patrick Benca, argued to the court Monday Barefield deserved a bond because the state was not pursuing the death penalty. In previous hearings, the death penalty was not "off the table."

Benca said other factors were worth considering.

"In November of 2016, we didn't have access to all the information," he said. "We were shooting from the hip based on what we knew then. We now know these two were regularly stealing auto parts and they had accomplices, friends and family members who were participating."

Benca alleged friends and family members dropped the pair off at the salvage yard with knowledge they were going to steal. When Brock and Dewitt didn't return, they knew something had gone wrong.

"This is a 10 acre lot, and these people were going to the exact spot [where Brock and Dewitt had a cache of stolen items] and removing items from the crime scene," Benca said. "And during this time there were no calls to the police."

"How does this matter to the defense?" Laser asked. "You can't shoot a guy for stealing your property."

Benca said it matters because it presents possible scenarios besides capital murder, such as manslaughter or self defense. Benca also testified friends and family of Brock and Dewitt put out a "hit" on Barefield with a white supremacist group within the jail. Benca said he had proof of a Facebook post which read, "Save the state money, and kill him."

"There are people requesting to be housed in the same cell as him for this reason," Benca said. Prosecuting Attorney David Gibbons said all that was "just talk."

"Well, it gives rise to concerns for his safety if he gets out," Laser said.

Becna also said he didn't believe Barefield showed up at his property with the intention of committing murder. Benca alleged several properties had been burglarized and Barefield wasn't "the only one watching his property."

"We have police officers shooting people who have cell phones or umbrellas [believing they are weapons]," Benca said. "There's a lot of things that could have happened that don't fall in line with capital murder."

"He was wearing camo in a particular place at a particular time," Gibbons said. "To say he didn't anticipate something was going to happen is not fair to the court. There is no case law to say he is entitled to a bond."

"If Mr. Gibbon's argument was solid, there would never be a bond given for capital murder, ever," Becna said.

The defense made no arguments against an electronic monitor to keep track of Barefield during his release before his court date, tentatively scheduled for June 12.

The prosecution further argued Barefield is seen as a flight risk because of the seriousness of the punishment and because Barefield's statement about being threatened, if true, could provide even more motivation to flee.

"He has the means to leave the country," Gibbons said, but the judge disagreed and issued a bond for Barefield.

By law, someone who has not been given a bond must have a trial within nine months or else be issued a bond. It has been six months since Barefield's initial bond was denied. The defense essentially made a case that Barefield gets a bond on Monday, or he gets one in three months — or he has a trial before then.

Laser heard the case because the original judge assigned to the hearing, Judge William Pearson, was recently arrested for fleeing, reckless driving, refusal to submit to a chemical test and a DWI in Clarksville after failing to stop at a sobriety checkpoint in January.

Becna's complete petition regarding Barefield's bond can be found here.